Written Answers Monday 6 December 2010

Scottish Executive

Cancer

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36953 by Nicola Sturgeon on 9 November 2010, whether it will commit to using the Barnett consequential funding resulting from the £200 million per year cancer drug fund for cancer drugs.

Nicola Sturgeon: The consequentials on the full NHS (health) settlement in England are allocated to the Scottish Government on a total budget basis with no specific policies ring-fenced. The Scottish Government will give due consideration to the Department of Health cancer drugs fund consultation findings once they are published.

  Scotland has robust, equitable and transparent arrangements for the introduction of newly licensed clinically and cost-effective medicines to treat all conditions. These arrangements include opportunities at national level to consider additional factors to facilitate, in certain circumstances, a flexible appraisal of clinical and cost-effective evidence. They also include opportunities at local level for clinically led consideration of medicines for individual patients in certain circumstances.

Climate Change

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the resources to implement its public engagement strategy, as required under section 91 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, have been allocated in the draft budget for 2011-12.

Stewart Stevenson: The public engagement strategy, as required under section 91 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, will be published in December 2010.

Community Planning

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average administrative cost is per community planning partnership in each local authority area.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of community planning partnership funding has been spent in support of local authority-driven projects since their inception.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of community planning partnership funding has been invested in (a) private and (b) voluntary sector initiatives in each local authority area since their inception.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of funding through community planning partnerships has been allocated to strategic rather than revenue costs since their inception.

Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are employed by each local authority to facilitate community planning partnerships.

John Swinney: Responsibility for the implementation of community planning lies with the partnerships themselves. This information is not held centrally.

Courts

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time was for a criminal case to be dealt with by (a) sheriff and (b) district courts in each of the last three years, broken down by police force area.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum length of time was for a criminal case to be dealt with by (a) sheriff and (b) district courts in each of the last three years, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: This question relates to operational matters that are the responsibility of the Scottish Court Service (SCS) corporate body. The question has been passed to the Chief Executive of the SCS who will reply in writing.

Dentistry

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on dental bursaries in 2009-10 for students at the University of (a) Dundee and (b) Glasgow.

Michael Russell: The Dental Bursary scheme provides £4,000 per year to anyone studying Dentistry in Scotland who can commit to the required retention period with NHS Scotland (up to a maximum of five years or equivalent part-time period). For University of Glasgow and University of Dundee students it is available from year two of their degree.

  The following table shows the total amount of money paid in dental bursaries to students at University of Dundee and University of Glasgow in academic session 2009-10.

  Payments made in Dental Bursaries to Students at University of Glasgow and University of Dundee – 2009-10

  

University of Dundee
University of Glasgow


£968,000
£1,248,000

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which teaching unions it has met since August 2010, apart from at meetings of the Curriculum for Excellence (CfE) Management Board, to monitor the implementation of the CfE and how many such meeting have taken place.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government meets regularly with all the teaching organisations to discuss matters of mutual interest, including Curriculum for Excellence.

  Since August 2010, I have met with School Leaders Scotland (SLS) on 6 October, the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) on 1 November and the Association of Headteachers and Deputes in Scotland (AHDS) on 24 November. In addition, officials have met with NASUWT (National Association of Schoolmasters/ Union of Women Teachers) on 7 October, the EIS on 8 October, SLS on 23 November and Voice on 25 November.

  The Curriculum for Excellence Management Board, on which teacher unions are represented, is the vehicle for monitoring and advising on implementation matters and uses a range of evidence from partners in taking this work forward.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which teaching unions it has contacted since August 2010 to monitor the implementation of the Curriculum for Excellence and how many times it has contacted each of these unions.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government has regular contact with all the teaching unions and other stakeholders to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the Curriculum for Excellence. We do not routinely count the number of times we make contact nor do we make available the details of private discussions with stakeholders.

  The Curriculum for Excellence management board, on which teacher unions are represented, is the vehicle for monitoring and advising on implementation matters and uses a range of evidence from partners in taking forward this work.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days it has planned for (a) 2011-12, (b) 2012-13, (c) 2013-14, (d) 2014-15 and (e) 2015-16.

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there will be a need for Curriculum for Excellence-specific continuing professional development days in each year until all the national qualifications have been rolled out.

Michael Russell: At present, the Scottish Government has no plans to offer local authorities the facility to provide further additional in-service days. We expect that local authorities will work with their schools and teachers to make best use of the five standard in-service days, and other time available for professional development, to address priorities for improvement in the context of Curriculum for Excellence.

  However, we have acted swiftly in the past on the advice of the Curriculum for Excellence management board on such matters. The management board is using a range of evidence from partners to monitor and advise on implementation matters, including support. We will carefully consider any such advice that is forthcoming in future.

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 1 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.

Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 1 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:

  

Local Authority
Number of Classes


Angus
1


Argyll and Bute
1


Clackmannanshire
2


Dumfries and Galloway
2


Dundee City
4


East Lothian
1


East Renfrewshire
13


Edinburgh City
8


Fife
5


Glasgow City
9


Highland
7


Moray
1


North Lanarkshire
1


Scottish Borders
4


South Lanarkshire
17


Stirling
2


West Dunbartonshire
1


West Lothian
1

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 2 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.

Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 2 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:

  

Local Authority
Number of Classes


Angus
3


Argyll and Bute
2


Clackmannanshire
2


Dumfries and Galloway
1


East Ayrshire
1


East Lothian
1


East Renfrewshire
1


Edinburgh City
6


Falkirk
1


Fife
3


Glasgow City
10


Highland
2


Inverclyde
1


Moray
1


North Lanarkshire
1


South Lanarkshire
13


Stirling
2


West Dunbartonshire
2

Education

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive in how many primary 3 classes team teaching is used, broken down by local authority.

Michael Russell: The available information on the number of primary 3 single stage classes taught by two or more teachers in September 2010 is given in the following table:

  

Local Authority
Number of Classes


Angus
4


East Dunbartonshire
1


East Renfrewshire
1


Edinburgh City
7


Fife
4


Glasgow City
5


Highland
3


Moray
1


North Lanarkshire
2


Renfrewshire
2


Scottish Borders
1


South Lanarkshire
16

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36574 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, what methods it uses to assess the overall (a) emissions output and (b) energy consumption of Scotland’s total non-domestic housing stock.

Stewart Stevenson: We have clarified that your question should have read "non-domestic property stock" rather than "non-domestic housing stock" as noted above.

  As such it asks for the same information as the question you refer to and asked previously (S3W-36574); and I refer you to my answer at that time – reproduced below for your convenience.

  Assessment of the approximate carbon emissions and energy consumption of non-domestic buildings is undertaken using the National Calculation Methodology (NCM) which ensures that such assessments comply with European Directive 2002/91/EC Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD).

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36569 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, for what reason it does not consider section 10 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 to be legislation that specifically requires a register for non-domestic energy performance certificates.

Stewart Stevenson: Under regulation 10, Scottish ministers are required to keep at least one register of energy performance certificates. This has been achieved through the registration of energy performance certificates on the Home Energy Efficiency Database. Legislation allows the register to be "maintained for different purposes or for different classes of buildings".

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36569 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, how it proposes to comply with the requirement of Article 7 of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive in ensuring that energy performance certificates are made available.

Stewart Stevenson: Compliance with the EU Directive on The Energy Performance of Buildings has been achieved and notification submitted to the EU. Mandatory provision of energy performance certificates for buildings was introduced through both The Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2008 and the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36570 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, whether it considers that not producing a central register for non-domestic energy performance certificates means that this information cannot be analysed for statistical purposes and, if so, whether it considers this disadvantageous.

Stewart Stevenson: The absence of a central register does not mean analysis of energy performance certificate information cannot be carried out. However, the provision of a robust central register could make such a task easier and cost effective to perform.

Energy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-36571 by Stewart Stevenson on 4 October 2010, whether it considers that a key advantage of having a register of energy performance certificates for non-domestic properties would be that ministers would be able to analyse and assess energy efficiency improvements to the non-domestic stock.

Stewart Stevenson: This could be advantageous. This is one of a number of issues currently being considered by officials as outlined in my response to question S3W-36569 on 4 October 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Equalities

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the UK Government following its decision not to commence the socioeconomic duty in the Equality Act 2010.

Alex Neil: I wrote to the UK Minister for Women and Equalities on 2 December 2010 expressing disappointment that the UK Government propose to not commence the socio-economic duty. I urged the UK Government to commence Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, and to consult fully with the Scottish Government before a final decision is taken.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish plans on how full fiscal autonomy would have operated (a) since 2007, (b) in the current year and (c) in forthcoming years, including estimates of (i) revenues raised, (ii) what funds would be remitted to the UK Government and (iii) how debt interest payments would be assessed.

John Swinney: Estimates of the tax revenue which could have been raised in Scotland, and the associated level of public sector expenditure, under alternative fiscal frameworks would depend upon a number of factors, including the policy decisions at that time.

  Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) demonstrates that, under the current fiscal framework, Scotland ran a cumulative current budget surplus, including a geographical share of North Sea revenue, worth £3.5 billion over the four years to 2008-09. Over the same period, the UK ran a cumulative current budget deficit worth £72.3 billion. This demonstrates that Scotland stands on a firm financial footing. With full fiscal responsibility, Scotland could build upon this, promote growth and create opportunities for all.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new institutions would be required to support full fiscal autonomy and what function each institution would fulfil.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has discussed the institutional structures required under different forms of fiscal responsibility in the National Conversation White Paper Your Scotland, Your Voice and the accompanying discussion papers, which are available on the Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/a-national-conversation .

  These reports highlight how fiscal institutions in other countries operate far more cost effectively than in the UK.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that its aims for fiscal responsibility match those for the Campaign for Fiscal Responsibility and, if not, in what way they differ.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that Scotland’s interests are best served with full fiscal responsibility under independence.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Council of Economic Advisers has considered the issue of full fiscal autonomy and, if so, what its views are.

John Swinney: At its ninth meeting the Council of Economic Advisers considered many issues related to increasing Scotland’s sustainable economic growth rate, including fiscal autonomy. The minutes of that meeting can be found at:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Economy/Council-Economic-Advisers/Meetings/2009-meetings/2010-meeting9 .

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will define financial independence as cited by the First Minister in the introduction to the 2010-11 programme for government.

John Swinney: Under full fiscal responsibility the Scottish Government would be responsible for raising all revenues and providing public services in Scotland. This would provide the Scottish Government with a range of additional policy levers to protect jobs, promote economic growth and improve Scotland’s long-term competitiveness.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to update the Campaign for Fiscal Responsibility on its plans for the financing of Scotland in light of the most recent Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report.

John Swinney: The most recent edition of Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland was published in June 2010, and is available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/06/22160331/0 .

  At the time of publication, officials notify key stakeholders of new updates and where they can be accessed on the Scottish Government website.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how the actions taken to bail-out the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS would have differed under financial independence as cited by the First Minister in the introduction to the 2010-11 programme for government.

John Swinney: Under independence, Scotland would have the opportunity to determine the best approach to regulating financial services in Scotland - including making decisions on partnerships with regulators in other countries - to provide an efficiently functioning market, financial stability and consumer protection.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which individual elements of the bail-out of the Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds TSB/HBOS and the subsequent fiscal stimulus and emergency measures to support economic recovery it would have had responsibility for under its plans for full fiscal autonomy.

John Swinney: Under independence, the Scottish Government would have an opportunity to establish a regulatory regime that ensured sufficient safeguards were in place to address the weaknesses of the regulatory regime established by the previous UK Government. As highlighted in the National Conversation discussion paper Fiscal Autonomy in Scotland: The Case for Change and Options for Reform , under full fiscal responsibility within the UK, certain elements of economic policy could remain reserved – including financial regulation – with the exact division of responsibility dependent on the specific framework put in place.

  Independence would also allow the Scottish Government to put forward an enhanced and better targeted stimulus package which met the priorities of the Scottish economy. For example, the temporary VAT cut implemented by the previous UK Government in 2009 was estimated to have supported 5,500 direct jobs in Scotland. If Scotland’s share of that cut had been used to increase capital expenditure, it is estimated that approximately 10,000 jobs would have been supported.

  Fiscal Autonomy for Scotland: The Case for Change and Options for Reform is available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/23092643/0.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its plans for full fiscal autonomy differ from the arrangements in place for the funding of (a) the Basque Country, (b) Canadian provinces, and (c) American states.

John Swinney: The fiscal frameworks in the Basque Country, Canada and the USA demonstrate the additional economic levers and opportunities that more ambitious levels of fiscal responsibility can provide. For example, the Basque Country has used its responsibility for the tax system to introduce a lower corporation tax rate than the rest of Spain. As of September 2010 the Basque Country also had a stronger credit rating than the Federal Spanish Government.

  In the USA and Canada, devolving responsibility for natural resource taxation, has allowed States and Provinces to tailor the tax system to maximise long term production rates, and invest a proportion of the resulting tax revenue in an ‘oil fund’, to provide a permanent benefit for future generations, such as those in Alberta and Alaska. State and Provincial governments in the USA and Canada also have the opportunity to borrow to manage the pace and priority of investment in infrastructure and to manage volatilities in tax revenues.

  All of these examples offer useful experience of how fiscal responsibility would benefit Scotland.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish plans on how "financial independence within the union" might operate.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government has set out how full fiscal responsibility in the UK - also referred to as "devolution max" - could operate in the National Conversation White Paper Your Scotland, Your Voice  and the accompanying discussion paper Fiscal Autonomy in Scotland: The Case for Change and Options for Reform.

  Your Scotland, Your Voice is available from:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/11/26155932/0.

  Fiscal Autonomy for Scotland: The Case for Change and Options for Reform is available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2009/02/23092643/0.

Finance

Ms Wendy Alexander (Paisley North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it considers that "the powers of independence and financial responsibility" would constitute "an alternative to a decade or more of Westminster-dictated cuts", as outlined in its 2010-11 programme for government.

John Swinney: The most effective way to reduce public sector borrowing is to promote sustainable economic growth. Faster economic growth will boost tax revenues, protect jobs and make addressing the legacy of debt left by the previous UK Government that much easier. However, the current UK Government’s proposals to cut public spending too far and too fast risks undermining the recovery and threatens the very efforts to restore the long-term sustainability of the UK fiscal position.

  Greater fiscal responsibility would allow the Scottish Government to manage the pace and priorities of fiscal consolidation to ensure that vital public services are protected and that the economic recovery is not damaged. Fiscal responsibility would also give the Scottish Government maximum opportunities to use the full spectrum of key economic policy levers to promote sustainable economic growth over the long term.

Finance

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Departmental Expenditure Limit underspend was returned to HM Treasury in 2007-08.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Departmental Expenditure Limit underspend was returned to HM Treasury in 2008-09.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Departmental Expenditure Limit underspend was returned to HM Treasury in 2009-10.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government does not return underspend to HM Treasury but draws down from HM Treasury only the resources it requires to fund expenditure over the course of each financial year. The final Departmental Expenditure Limit underspends for 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 were £42 million, £21 million, and £47 million respectively.

Finance

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it arrived at the figure of £426 million when calculating the resources required to fund the commitments contained in the agreement between COSLA’s leadership and the Scottish Government as outlined in Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12.

John Swinney: The figure of around £426 million represents the additional revenue funding allocated to local government as a result of the Scottish Government and COSLA’s Leadership agreeing to maintain local government’s share of the overall Scottish Budget at 2010-11 levels in return for the specific commitments set out in the joint agreement.

  Had local government received the same average reduction in funding as the other areas of the Scottish Government’s portfolio budgets which did not receive the same degree of protection then their reduction in revenue funding would have been reduced by 6.4 per cent whereas under the joint agreement it is only 2.6 per cent, which is worth around £426 million.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following table sets out the funding provided by the Scottish Government to Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09 and (c) 2009-10.

  

Grant Awarded
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


Section 16B Grant 
25,000
23,000
21,000


Children Young People and Families Unified Voluntary Sector Fund
37,650
37,650
37,650


Total
62,650
60,650
58,650

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on November 2010, whether all the efficiency savings generated in the health budget line will be retained in that line.

Nicola Sturgeon: All the efficiency savings generated by health will be retained within health.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has implemented all the recommendations of the report, Getting to GRIPS with Chronic Pain in Scotland , as the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing undertook to do on 20 May 2008.

Nicola Sturgeon: The recommendations of the Getting to GRIPS (Getting Relevant Information on Pain Services) with Chronic Pain in Scotland report form the basis of the current work programme of the Chronic Pain Steering Group set up by the Scottish Government Health Directorates and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland.

  The steering group’s main focus has been on developing the Scottish integrated service model for chronic pain which is expected to:

  improve prevention and management of chronic pain for people in Scotland;

  improve services at all levels;

  minimise the burden of pain on individuals and the community, and

  promote the aims of other institutions involved in supporting pain management practice, education, research and specialty recognition, including supporting improved self management programmes.

  The model is integrated with the pathway for referral into services currently being taken forward through the musculo-skeletal programme of the Adult Framework for Rehabilitation.

  Representatives of the Chronic Pain Steering Group provided an update on progress with the work programme at the meeting of the Cross Party Group on Chronic Pain on 24 November 2010.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new funding has been provided to tackle chronic pain since May 2007 and how it has been spent.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not available centrally, as NHSScotland does not generally quantify the funding attributable to any specific long-term condition. We have however been providing funding of just over £60,000 a year to fund the post of Scottish Government Lead Clinician on Chronic Pain. We also provided NHS Quality Improvement Scotland with funding of £24,000 in financial year 2009-10, to help with the administrative support it provides for the lead clinician and the Chronic Pain Steering Group.

  We provided pump-priming funding of £50,000 a year for two years to help with the establishment of a chronic pain managed clinical network (MCN) in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. It is now supported very effectively by the board. Our intention remains that the network should act as a demonstrator to other NHS boards of the benefits of an MCN approach to chronic pain services.

  We awarded the Pain Association Scotland a three year core grant from April 2010 of £35,000 a year under the section 16B scheme of grants. In 2008-09, the association also received a one-off grant of £60,000 over two years to support the role out of its chronic pain self management programme. We also provided Fibromyalgia Friends Scotland with section 16B funding to assist with the costs associated with running support groups across Scotland, in the form of a core grant totalling £9,000 over three years from 2007-10, and a one-off project grant, totalling £2,513.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a lead clinician for chronic pain and, if so, whether the post is full or part-time and how it is funded.

Nicola Sturgeon: As indicated in the answer to question S3W-37844 on 6 December 2010, we have been providing funding of just over £60,000 a year since 2009 to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to fund the post of Scottish Government Lead Clinician on Chronic Pain. This is a part-time appointment, as is the case with all of our lead clinician posts.

  The previous post holder had to resign recently due to serious illness, and we are now in the process of appointing a successor.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the national waiting time standard applies to patients waiting for treatment from the national scoliosis service.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28088 on 5 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

Health

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that the national scoliosis service meets the waiting time standard of 12 weeks for inpatient and day-care treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-28088 on 5 November 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx

  The Scottish Government is aware that patients are experiencing delays in accessing the scoliosis service. A review of the scoliosis service is currently being undertaken to address service issues. The review is due to be completed by February 2011.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of houses built under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme between September 2009 and 2010 were for sale.

Alex Neil: As published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages on the Scottish Government website, the number of houses completed for low cost home ownership under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) between Quarter 4 2009 (beginning of October 2009) and Quarter 3 2010 (end of September 2010) was 1,766. This equates to 26.6% of the total number of units completed under AHIP and includes new build, rehab and off the shelf.

  The link to the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NB-AHIP.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of houses built under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme between September 2009 and 2010 were bought off the shelf from private developers.

Alex Neil: As published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages on the Scottish Government website, there was a total of 116 off the shelf purchases from private developers under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) between Quarter 4 2009 (beginning of October 2009) and Quarter 3 2010 (end of September 2010). This equates to 1.7% of the total number of units completed under AHIP. The figure of 116 excludes the figures against the heading "other" in the published statistics as none of these were bought off the shelf from private developers.

  The link to the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NB-AHIP.

Housing

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many and (b) what percentage of houses built under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme between September 2009 and 2010 were rehabilitations.

Alex Neil: As published on the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages on the Scottish Government website, the number of rehabilitations completed under the Affordable Housing Investment Programme (AHIP) between Quarter 4 2009 (beginning of October 2009) and Quarter 3 2010 (end of September 2010) was 375. This equates to 5.6% of the total number of units completed under AHIP.

  The link to the Housing Statistics for Scotland web pages can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Housing-Regeneration/HSfS/NB-AHIP.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Department for International Development since May 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: There have been a number of official level discussions with the Department of International Development since May 2007.

  At a Ministerial level, Linda Fabiani, then Minister for Europe and External Affairs and Culture, visited the Department for International Development in East Kilbride on 7 November 2008 to discuss the Scottish Government’s international development policy.

  During my visit to Malawi in February this year, I met with Gwen Hines, Head of Department For International Development Malawi, to discuss the impact that Scottish Government funded projects were having on the ground and in May this year I spoke with Andrew Mitchell following his appointment as Secretary of State for International Development.

International Development

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scotland Office regarding international development since May 2007.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government has had discussions at an official level with the Scotland Office to provide updates on the progress of its international development work.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the potential biological removal rates for the seven seal management areas have been established and, if so, what the rates are for each area.

Richard Lochhead: The potential biological removal (PBR) figures are currently being established and will be published in early 2011.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the targeted shooting of a maximum set quota of seals differs from an annual cull.

Richard Lochhead: The purpose of seal management under sections 110 (1)(f) and 110 (1)(g) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 is specifically to protect the health and welfare of farmed fish or to prevent serious damage to fisheries and fish farms respectively. In contrast the purpose of any seal cull would be to actually control or reduce the size of the overall seal population. This is not the purpose of the new seal licensing system.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new seal licences to be issued under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 will impose conditions relating to where and when the species of seal may be killed or taken.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances seal licences issued under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 will contain conditions relating to the period during which seals may not be killed or taken.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances seal licences issued under section 110 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 will contain conditions relating to the area in which seals may be killed or taken.

Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland will consider each seal licence application on a case by case basis, including conditions in respect of where and when seals may or may not be taken or killed.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how Marine Scotland will monitor and enforce the provisions of the seal licensing scheme introduced by the Marine Scotland Act 2010 to ensure the transparent reporting of seals that have been taken as well as killed.

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fish farms will have to provide evidence that seals were shot as a measure of last resort and, if so, what evidence will be required.

Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland will monitor the operation of the seal licensing system, including the checking of quarterly returns of seals shot against licences and examination of any seal carcasses recovered, and, where appropriate, will investigate any specific issues that may arise. It will be an offence for anyone to shoot a seal without a licence and the local police will be provided with full details of all licences and nominated marksmen.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how Marine Scotland will monitor and enforce the use of non-lethal measures to deter seals from fish farms.

Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland will monitor the use and effectiveness of non-lethal measures through the licensing process and, where appropriate, include licence conditions in respect of this issue.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage and support fish farms to use less intensive systems, well-designed, adequately tensioned nets and lower stocking densities of fish in order to promote good practice that eliminates the need to shoot seals.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government continues to encourage industry best practice on predator control through the implementation of A Fresh Start – the Renewed Strategic Framework for Scottish Aquaculture and its associated Working Groups. One of these, the Improved Containment Working Group, has seen the finfish industry sign up to the development of a statutory engineering standard for Scottish fish-farms. The contractor for that work has just been appointed, with the standard to be developed over the next year.

  The Containment Group is also rolling out a programme of skills development and improved training of operators and site staff to reduce fish farm escapes, including through predation. This includes awareness raising seminars, best practice workshops, on-site training and development of nationally recognised containment and predator control qualifications. The group has also identified specific actions to share Scottish and international best practice on predator control and training of site staff in appropriate use of Acoustic Deterrent Devices.

  Most modern fish farms now have an independently audited Environmental Management System, accredited to ISO 14001. Many include a predator control plan specific to its location, taking account of likely predators, tidal conditions and stringent animal welfare requirements.

  As regards lower stocking densities on fish farms, that is an explicit objective of the RSPCA’s Freedom Food Standard which aims at a stocking density of 15kg per cubic metre. All of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation (SSPO) member companies are now involved in this initiative, either working towards or having already achieved accreditation.

  The Scottish Government also works closely with the industry on a range of initiatives to encourage best practice on predator control.

  The industry will shortly publish an updated Code of Good Practice for Scottish Aquaculture. This will incorporate an updated predator control code of practice outlining specific measures to deter seals from approaching pens, such as nets that are sufficiently weighted to tension side panels, and use of acoustic seal scaring devices.

  The SSPO is sponsoring the development of new acoustic seal scarers with the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) and is actively involved with other independent seals experts and wildlife interests in the Scottish Government’s Scottish Seals Forum.

  Finally, a Salmon, Aquaculture and Seals Working Group has recently been established with the aim of establishing non-lethal methods of seal deterrence. The group is chaired by Dr Simon Northridge of SMRU and its membership includes representatives from Marine Harvest, Sainsbury’s, the Seal Protection Action Group, International Animal Rescue, RSPCA and SMRU.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to support research into non-lethal measures of deterrence in relation to seals and fish farms.

Richard Lochhead: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-30201 on 25 January 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  In addition, a Scottish Government sponsored research project has reviewed existing deterrents and developed a cetacean-friendly seal scarer using novel artificial sounds. This research showed, through captive experiments, that seals can be deterred by many sounds but that this effect can gradually disappear over time. The new acoustic deterrent involves a ‘startle stimulus’ which appears to continue to work over time.

  The Scottish Government is currently funding a project to test this new species-specific acoustic deterrent in the field at fish farms which is due to report during late 2011.

  The Scottish Aquaculture Research Forum (SARF) has funded a project to determine the extent to which Acoustic Deterrent Devices (ADDs) used at Scottish salmon farms affect harbour porpoise distribution, and how effective ADDs are at deterring seals from causing damage to nets and to farmed stock. The interactions between seals and salmon farms were also examined through direct observations of seal activity around two sites and by examining trends in numbers of seals in relation to their distance from farm sites throughout Scotland. A report on this project will be published in the near future.

  The Scottish Government continues to work with its partners to refine these technologies and develop new approaches.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will produce guidance and a code of practice, equivalent to that produced for licences issued under section 110(1)(g) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, for licences issued under the other provisions of section 110.

Richard Lochhead: Marine Scotland has already produced guidance and a code of practice for licences issued under section 110 (1)(f) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, these can be located at: www.scotland.gov.uk/seallicensing . It will consider similar guidance for other licence purposes where appropriate.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether fisheries and fish farms will only be granted licences to shoot seals under section 110(1)(g) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Richard Lochhead: It is open to individuals or organisations to apply to Scottish Ministers for seal licences for any of the purposes under section 110 (1) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes a fishery under section 110(1)(g) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Richard Lochhead: The term fishery is not defined in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The Oxford English Dictionary definition covers both a place where fish are caught - "a place or district where fish are caught; fishing-ground", and the business of catching fish - "business, occupation, or industry of catching fish, or of taking other products of the sea or rivers from the water".

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the remit of the Scottish Coastal Forum following the passing of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Coastal Forum (SCF) was set up by ministerial invitation in 1996 with a remit to:

  Encourage a voluntary, sustainable and holistic approach to the management of Scotland’s coasts through the formation of local coastal fora;

  Act as the national focus for coastal issues and co-ordinate the dissemination of advice on best practice;

  Reflect views and aspirations of local fora for the coast of Scotland and guide a national policy framework within which local initiatives can operate, and

  Advise Government in the development of coastal policies for Scotland.

  Following the passing of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, it was agreed that the Scottish Coastal Forum would have a particular role in supporting the setting up of Marine Planning Partnerships during the transition to the new post-marine act regime.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how membership of the Scottish Coastal Forum differs from membership of the Marine Strategy Forum.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Coastal Forum is more operational and more coastal in focus. Membership details for both the Scottish Coastal Forum and the Marine Strategy Forum are on the Scottish Government’s website. There are a number of organisations which are members of one only and there is also some overlap in terms of organisations represented on both. Where there is overlap in representation for an organisation, membership is intended to be at the operational level for the Scottish Coastal Forum and at a more strategic level for the Marine Strategy Forum.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Coastal Forum’s remit differs from that of the Marine Strategy Forum.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Coastal Forum has a coastal and operational focus in contrast to the marine and strategic focus of the Marine Strategy Forum.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what role the Scottish Coastal Forum will play in the new marine planning system arising from the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Coastal Forum will provide hands-on experience to support the development of the new marine planning regime.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how the Scottish Coastal Forum is funded.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Coastal Forum.

Marine Environment

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what is the Scottish Coastal Forum’s budget.

Richard Lochhead: Scottish Ministers provided the Scottish Coastal Forum with a grant of £60,000 in 2010-11. The resources are to support local coastal partnerships, by providing training and direct support as well as to meet the running costs of the Scottish Coastal Forum.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis in each NHS board area in each of the last five years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not held centrally.

  The needs assessment of myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME-CFS), which we commissioned from the Scottish Public Health Network, and which was published in September, suggests a prevalence of the condition in the adult population of between two and four per 1,000 people.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it last met the ME Association and what issues were discussed.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government has not had any recent meetings with the ME Association.

  Representatives of the ME Association had the opportunity of contributing to the development of the Scottish Good Practice Statement on ME-CFS, and the associated Quick Reference Clinical Guide and guide for patients which we published in September. These documents can be found at:  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/GoodPracticeStatementonME-CFSforGeneralPractitioners.

  Contact details for the ME Association are included in the Scottish Good Practice Statement and the patient guide.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action has been taken to develop specialist support to enable people with myalgic encephalomyelitis to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Quick Reference Clinical Guide associated with the Scottish Good Practice Statement on myalgic encephalomyelitis and chronic fatigue syndrome (ME-CFS) contains an algorithm showing the generic care pathway for people with ME-CFS. This helps make general practitioners aware of the more specialist services to which they might refer their patients.

  The needs assessment of ME-CFS published in September by the Scottish Public Health Network (SPHN) recommends a three-tier model of care for Scotland, covering services in the community, services within primary care and specialist services or expertise. We are currently considering this and the other recommendations in the SPHN report.

  Implementation of the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (NHS QIS) clinical standards for neurological health services will also assist NHS boards in the process of improving their services for all neurological conditions, including ME-CFS. We are providing funding to encourage the development of a neurological managed clinical network (MCN) in each NHS board as the main vehicle for taking forward this work.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 November 2010, whether (a) territorial and (b) special NHS boards will be able to retain efficiency savings that they generate in 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: (a) All territorial health boards will retain the efficiency savings that they achieve in 2011-12.

  (b) Four Special Health Boards, the Scottish Ambulance Service, the State Hospital, NHS 24 and the National Waiting Times Centre will retain the efficiency savings they generate in 2011-12. The following Special Health Boards will not retain efficiency savings on services not delivering direct patient care, NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37378 by Nicola Sturgeon on 22 November 2010, which NHS boards will be unable to retain the efficiency savings that they generate in 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: The following Special Health Boards will not retain efficiency savings on services not delivering direct patient care; NHS Education for Scotland, NHS Health Scotland, NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and NHS National Services Scotland.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37379 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2010, when additional funding for 2011-12 will be allocated for NHS boards currently below their NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) target share.

Nicola Sturgeon: A decision on the allocations to the NHS boards for 2011-12 will be made following consideration of the NRAC target shares for 2011-12. It is planned to announce funding to the NHS boards in February 2011 following the final stage vote of the Scottish Government’s proposed 2011-12 budget by the Scottish Parliament.

NHS Finance

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37379 by Nicola Sturgeon on 16 November 2010, what additional funding it will provide for each NHS board currently below its NHSScotland Resource Allocation Committee (NRAC) target share.

Nicola Sturgeon: A decision on the allocations to the NHS boards for 2011-12 will be made following consideration of the NRAC target shares for 2011-12. It is planned to announce funding to the NHS boards in February 2011 following the final stage vote of the Scottish Government’s proposed 2011-12 budget by the Scottish Parliament.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists for planning authorities as to how fully they should explain to interested parties their reasons for arriving at a specific decision.

Stewart Stevenson: For decisions on planning applications, legislation requires planning authorities to issue a decision notice and report of handling and specifies the content of these documents. Planning authorities are required to keep copies of these documents on their publically available planning register. Those who made representations are also advised once a decision has been made and where further details of the decision are available.

  Further guidance on the content of the decision notice and report of handling can be found in Circular 4/2009: Development Management Procedures available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/publications/circulars.

  For development plans, legislation requires planning authorities to submit a summary of unresolved issues to Scottish Ministers in advance of the examination of a strategic or local development plan. This summary must include a statement of the reasons why the planning authority did not modify the proposed plan in response to the issues raised in representations. Circular 1/2009: Development Planning provides further guidance on the approach to notifying interested parties of key stages in the process and is also available on the Scottish Government website at:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/publications/circulars.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists for planning authorities regarding the status that they should accord to the recommendations of their planning officials when arriving at a decision.

Stewart Stevenson: None. This would be a matter for the planning authority.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists for planning authorities regarding the status that they should accord to the results of local public engagement exercises when arriving at a decision.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning legislation requires planning authorities to make decisions in line with the development plan for the area unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Where the outcome of public engagement is submitted as a representation to the planning authority on an application it may constitute such a material consideration. While material considerations are likely to include views of statutory and other consultees and those of the public, the weight to be attached to each material consideration is for the decision maker to decide.

  Circular 4/2009: Development Management Procedures contains further guidance on what may constitute a material consideration and is available on the Scottish Government website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/planning/publications/circulars.

  For development plans, legislation requires that planning authorities are to have regard to representations made to them on Main Issues Reports in preparing and publishing proposed local development plans and strategic development plans.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists for planning authorities regarding the status that they should accord to the results of mediation exercises when arriving at a decision.

Stewart Stevenson: None. This would be a matter for the planning authority.

Planning

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance exists for planning authorities as to whether all elected members serving on planning committees should visit sites of major strategic developments before arriving at a decision.

Stewart Stevenson: None. The issue of site visits in relation to applications for planning permission and who should attend is a matter for the planning authority.

Planning

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances a planning authority will advise a developer to change the name or description of a planning proposal and what the relevant legislation or regulations would be.

Stewart Stevenson: Planning legislation does not specify circumstances or procedures in this regard. In practice, specific issues relating to the proposed development and the stage in the planning process will determine the advice given by the planning authority.

Police

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether football banning orders issued in England and Wales apply in Scotland.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether people subject to football banning orders issued in England and Wales can be prosecuted in Scotland for attending a match in Scotland.

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that football banning orders issued in England and Wales apply in Scotland and vice versa.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. The UK Policing and Crime Act 2009 made provision to ensure that football banning orders (FBOs) issued in England and Wales apply in Scotland. This part of the Act came into force on 1 April 2010. In a recent case in Edinburgh, a person was convicted for breaching an FBO issued in England in 2007 for attending a match in Scotland.

  Provisions in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 ensured that FBOs issued in Scotland apply in England and Wales.

Prison Service

James Kelly (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to end automatic early release.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government remains committed to ending automatic unconditional early release and has taken action to make this happen.

Prison Service

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its officials have met the Scottish Prison Service to discuss the possible closure of HM Prison Noranside.

Kenny MacAskill: The potential closure of prisons would be an operational matter for the Scottish Prison Service, who meet Scottish Government colleagues from the Justice Directorate on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues.

Public Sector Staff

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37254 by John Swinney on 22 November 2010, what the (a) job description and (b) salary is for each of the posts listed.

John Swinney: With regard to Infrastructure Investment Group membership, the functions of the Scottish Government officials, and those of Transport Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service are available on the government’s staff directory, to which members of the Scottish Parliament have access. Job descriptions for the employees of the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Futures Trust are the responsibility of these bodies, and are not held centrally.

  In line with ongoing work regarding improving transparency, the salaries for Scottish Government senior staff (Director level and above, including Transport Scotland) are available on the Scottish Government’s website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/Directorates/scs-structure. The website also provides information on the generic pay scales for Scottish Government staff below this level, although specific details about individual salaries of employees has not been disclosed as it is considered personal information under the Data Protection Act 1998 and would be exempt under Section 38(1)(b) of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.

  The Scottish Government asked Scottish NDPBs and Public Corporations to list on their respective websites the names and salary details of members of their senior leadership team equivalent to Senior Civil Service Grade 2 (Director) and above. For the Scottish Prison Service and Scottish Futures Trust, the salaries of the post holders are available on their respective websites.

  Scottish Prison Service: http://www.sps.gov.uk//Default.aspx?DocumentID=72204d19-2f95-463d-9c86-59547ecc795d;

  Scottish Futures Trust: http://www.scottishfuturestrust.org.uk/docs/152/Pay%20bands%20breakdown%2013%20Sep%2010pay.pdf.

  The Scottish Funding Council post holder has been excluded from the return on its website as they are not part of its senior leadership team: http://www.sfc.ac.uk/seniorsalaries/.

Public Transport

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the draft budget for 2011-12 includes provision for investment in the modernisation of the Glasgow subway in that year.

Stewart Stevenson: Funding for Glasgow subway will continue as part of Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT)’s annual capital grant award. Scottish Government officials are working closely with SPT to consider the detail of their modernisation proposals and the part we can play. Good progress is being made and I look forward to considering final proposals by the end of this year.

Renewable Energy

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many wind farm development applications it has (a) approved and (b) rejected since 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

Jim Mather: Since May 2007 the Scottish Government has consented 19 wind farms and rejected seven.

  The information requested regarding parliamentary constituency is not held centrally.

Roads

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the level 3 budget line for Road Improvements is to be reduced from £49.7 million in 2010-11 to £24.2 million in 2011-12 and what specific spending is being reduced to achieve this.

Stewart Stevenson: The scale of the total reduction in the Scottish Government budget for 2011-12 has required tough decisions to be taken about expenditure across government and careful consideration of pressures and priorities in all portfolios. Taking into account these pressures, we have considered all areas of expenditure, the scope for efficiencies and the contribution that spending programmes make to sustainable economic growth and the delivery of portfolio priorities. In order to reduce the level of spending across the Finance and Sustainable Growth portfolio, we have taken the following difficult decisions on Transport:

  With a few notable exceptions such as the Forth Replacement Crossing, on capital spend we will prioritise existing projects over new. Expenditure on road improvements has been reduced. In 2010-11, the level three budget line for road improvements included preparation for major projects and this has been moved to capital works.

  The spending to be reduced in this budget line includes deferring some of the work to further expand the Traffic Scotland infrastructure and the small trunk road improvement schemes which have completed their statutory process will be held in readiness to be taken forward at the earliest possible opportunity.

Roads

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the level 3 budget line for the Forth and Tay Road Bridge Authorities is to be increased from £10.7 million in 2010-11 to £22.4 million in 2011-12 and on what this additional funding is to be spent.

Stewart Stevenson: The level 3 budget line for the Forth and Tay Road Bridge Authorities has increased in order to meet contractual commitments and to allow essential maintenance works to take place. This will enable work to replace the viaduct bearings on the Forth Road Bridge to continue and work to protect the piers of the Tay Road Bridge from ship impact to get underway.

Roads

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the statement on page 99 of Scotland’s Spending Plans and Draft Budget 2011-12, what specific small road improvement schemes are to be delayed.

Stewart Stevenson: The following small trunk road improvement schemes which have completed their statutory process will be held in readiness to be taken forward at the earliest possible opportunity:

  A95 Lackgie Improvement

  A702 Candymill Bend and Edmonstone Brae

  A737 Head Street Roundabout.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the proposed improvements outlined in the 1996 A76 Route Action Plan at Brackenhill, Polquhirter, Gateside and Cample will be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government remains committed to improving the safety and operation of the A76, and we have recently invested, or are currently progressing, over £3.5 million of maintenance and safety improvements at a number of sites along the route.

  In the light of the unprecedented 1.3 billion cuts to our capital budgets imposed by Westminster, difficult choices have been necessary. We will continue to progress schemes currently in preparation through their statutory process, and those that have completed the necessary statutory process we will prepare to take forward at the earliest opportunity.

  I cannot therefore give a commitment to these A76 schemes at present.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the upgrading of the A76 has a role to play in the economic development and regeneration of former coalfield areas.

Stewart Stevenson: We recognise the importance of effective road and rail links in supporting Ayrshire’s economic regeneration.

  In this context, Transport Scotland has undertaken significant works to upgrade and improve the safety of the A76 in recent years.

  In the longer term, the Strategic Transport Projects Review has identified a number of interventions that will benefit Ayrshire, including active route management and targeted investment on the A76, the upgrading of the A77 around Ayr, bypasses around Maybole and Dalry, and future enhancements to the rail service between Ayrshire and Glasgow.

Roads

Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37685 by Stewart Stevenson on 25 November 2010 and given that the inquiry was concluded two years ago, when it expects to announce the outcome of the public local inquiry into the M8 Baillieston to Newhouse scheme.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-35713 on 23 August 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Social Care

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the civil servant taking the lead in dealing with the establishment of Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland is now also leading the Moray Task Force.

Shona Robison: This arrangement is a pragmatic short-term solution to a major problem. The Transition Director’s appointment to the Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS) transition team was intended to run until the conclusion of the appointment process for the Chief Executive of SCSWIS. The Chair of SCSWIS has been appointed, an announcement on the Interim Chief Executive is imminent and we expect the Transition Director to give up that role at that time.

Taxation

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its decision not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the Scottish variable rate was agreed by the Cabinet.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not hold a consultation prior to its decision not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the Scottish variable rate.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has met HM Revenue and Customs to discuss its decision not to make the payment to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the Scottish variable rate.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it decided not to pay HM Revenue and Customs to carry out the work required to allow the operation of the Scottish variable rate.

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it did not place information regarding its decision to suspend its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate on its website.

John Swinney: As was made clear in the parliamentary debate on the Scottish Variable Rate (SVR) on Wednesday 24 November, the Scottish Government has been in dialogue with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) since 2007 about the work required to re-establish the capability of HMRC’s systems to operate the SVR following the mothballing of the SVR from 2000, and about the costs and timescales associated with that work.

  After providing, in 2007, initial cost estimates ranging from £1.2 million to £3.4 million, HMRC on 28 July 2010 sought a payment of £7 million from the Scottish Government in order for the work to be undertaken. HMRC indicated that if agreement to pay was reached by 21 August, work would go ahead to enable the Scottish Parliament returned in May 2011 to exercise the SVR powers in the Scotland Act 1998 with effect from the tax year beginning 5 April 2012. This timescale could be achieved provided that the decision to vary the tax rate was made and communicated to HMRC by the end of May 2011.

  The Scottish Government’s response to HMRC drew attention to a number of legitimate concerns, including questions about value for money given the UK Government’s planned introduction of new income tax provisions set out in the report of the Calman Commission which would lead to the replacement of the SVR, and sought a meeting at which these concerns could be examined. Despite a reminder, no meeting was arranged. Since the Parliament debated this important issue on 24 November, HMRC and Scottish Government officials have met and further work is now in hand on costs and timescales associated with returning the SVR systems to an operable condition.

  A Service Level Agreement (SLA) was in place between the then Scottish Executive and its predecessor organisations from 2000 to 2003, and from 2003 to 2007, when the agreement expired. Under the SLA that expired in 2007, an annual payment of £50,000 was made to HMRC in return for maintaining the database of Scottish taxpayers. The existence of an up to date list of Scottish taxpayers was a necessary but not a sufficient condition for operating the SVR. Operable IT systems were also required. The work required to return the IT systems to a fully operable condition was much more significant and many times more expensive than the annual cost of the SLA.

  On 24 November I apologised for not informing or consulting Parliament about the unavailability of the SVR systems either in 2007, when the condition of the SVR systems first became known, or this summer, when it emerged that only by spending a substantial amount of public money could the capacity of the SVR systems be restored in time for use in 2012-13.

Taxation

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it took legal advice regarding its decision to cease payments to HM Revenue and Customs to maintain the database required to implement the Scottish variable rate.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. In accordance with the Scottish Ministerial Code, it is not the normal practice of the Scottish Government to disclose whether legal advice has been sought in relation to a particular situation.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Taxation

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it sought the advice of the Council of Economic Advisors prior to suspending its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate and, if so, whether it will publish this advice.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. There was no need to seek advice from the Council of Economic Advisors on this issue.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Taxation

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its decision to cease payments to HM Revenue and Customs to maintain the database required to implement the Scottish variable rate was discussed at Cabinet and, if so, on what dates.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. All decisions on this question were mine.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Taxation

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whom it consulted prior to its decision to suspend its right to exercise the Scottish variable rate.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-37713 on 6 December 2010. No suspension of the power to vary the SVR has taken place. The power remains in statute.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Transport

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the level 3 budget line for Support for Ferry Services is to be increased from £77.8 million in 2010-11 to £94.4 million in 2011-12 and on what this additional funding is to be spent.

Stewart Stevenson: The Support for Ferry Services budget line is used to fund essential ferry services which transport people, vehicles, freight and livestock to and from Scotland’s island and remote mainland communities. The vast majority of funding is distributed via long-term contracts with ferry operators.

  Operating costs have risen since the last spending review and funding has been increased to the level needed to maintain the existing provision of lifeline services at affordable fares.

Transport

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the level 3 budget line for Network Strengthening and Improvement is to be reduced from £56.4 million in 2010-11 to £15 million in 2011-12 and what specific spending is being reduced to achieve this.

Stewart Stevenson: The scale of the total reduction in the Scottish Government budget for 2011-12 has required tough decisions to be taken about expenditure across government and careful consideration of pressures and priorities in all portfolios. Taking into account these pressures, we have considered all areas of expenditure, the scope for efficiencies and the contribution that spending programmes make to sustainable economic growth and the delivery of portfolio priorities. In order to reduce the level of spending across the Finance and Sustainable Growth portfolio, we have taken the following difficult decisions on transport:

  With a few notable exceptions such as the Forth Replacement Crossing, on capital spend we will prioritise existing projects over new. Expenditure on maintenance of the motorway and trunks roads network, including Network Strengthening and Improvement has been reduced.

  The Capital Maintenance budget available for trunk roads is the combined total for Network Strengthening and Improvement, which has been reduced, and structural repairs which has been increased. The total available funding has therefore been reduced from £71 million to £45 million. We will manage the decrease in funding by re-prioritising the structural maintenance programme and focus on maintaining the safety and condition of our trunk roads allowing essential road repair works to be carried out.

Transport

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason the level 3 budget line for Support for Freight Industry is to be reduced from £10.3 million in 2010-11 to £2.9 million in 2011-12 and what specific spending is being reduced to achieve this.

Stewart Stevenson: The UK Government has reduced Scotland’s budget by £1.3 billion in 2011-12 - cuts of around £500 million to our resource budget and £800 million to our capital budget. As a result, we have had to take tough decisions, including a reduction in the Support for the Freight Industry budget. This has led to the closure of the Freight Facilities Grant scheme to applications for projects which will incur expenditure after 31 March 2011.

Veterinary Services

John Scott (Ayr) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reason it has made a reduction of 12.5% in the veterinary surveillance budget before the Kinnaird review of veterinary surveillance reports in January 2011.

Richard Lochhead: Like other areas of public spending, these services are subject to cuts because of the reduced funding from the Westminster Government. No final decision has been made yet on the funding to the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) for the delivery of veterinary surveillance in Scotland. Several scenarios involving cuts to this and other public good advisory activities delivered by SAC and other organisations are being explored, and their potential impacts will be assessed jointly. A final proposal will be made taking into consideration our priorities and other factors, including the potentially unfortunate timing of changes to veterinary surveillance ahead of this report.